Lubricator.



R. H. REIGHBL.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Sum whoa wi tvwom MAW COLUMBIA PMNUORAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. c.

ROBERT H. REICI-IEL, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS. i

LUBRICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Application filed July 15, 1910. Serial No. 572,079.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. RnrcHnL, citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lubricating devices and has particular reference to sight feed lubricators of the displacement type having means connected therewith for regulating the temperature of the lubricant.

The chief objects of the improvements which constitute the subject matter of this application for patent are :to provide a device of the character stated that is simple in construction, easily operated and efiicient in its action due to the method of thinning the lubricating material by the application of heat so that a comparatively small quantity of oil will be required to produce a proper V lubrication of the parts to which it is ap plied, this feature conducing to economy in the consumption of the lubricant.

Referring to other results obtained by my improved lubricating device, it is to be noted that the oil supplied for lubrication drops down through the live steam in the sight feed tube thus insuring a clearglass under all circumstances; that provision is made for draining the barrel preparatory to refilling with the lubricating fluid; and that a drain cock is supplied in a proper location so that in severe weather the water of condensation can be easily removed to prevent freezing.

A very important feature of this invention is to be found in the arrangement of a selfact-ing valve to control the supply of lubrieating material, thus rendering the device practically automatic in its operation, preventing waste of oil when not in use, and requiring especial attention only when there is a necessity of refilling the reservoir with oil or for draining the chambers to prevent freezing.

' I accomplish the desired results by employing the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application, and shows in vertical section a sight feed displacement lubricator embodying my improvements.

Referring to the details of the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a cylindrical receptacle or barrel, having the function of a storage chamber and furnished with a wide opening in the top into which is screwed the lower end of a hollow cylinder 2 which forms a condensing chamber for the steam used in producing a flow of the lubricant under certain circumstances in a manner hereinafter described. The barrel or reservoir 1 is furnished with an opening 3, through which the interior can be refilled when empty of oil, said opening being closed by a screw plug 4:.

Arranged transversely below the reservoir is a horizontal pipe 5, communicating at one end with an integral vertical coupling 6, and having the opposite-end of the bore enlarged to form a valve chamber 7 in which is arranged a control valve 8, furnished with a threaded stem 9, to which is attached a hand wheel 10 for operating the valve. The said valve chamber has an upwardly extending nipple 11, threaded to engage a threaded opening in the bottom of the barrrel 1. The coupling 6 is threaded at each end, the lower end being adapted to be attached to the steam supply pipe (not shown) of an engine.

Attached to the upper end of the barrel or reservoir 1 is a connection consisting of a body 12 having a boss 13 engaging a thread ed aperture 11 in the side of the reservoir. The body 12 of the connection is furnished with a central bore 15 which extends entirely through the connection. The lower part of this bore is reduced in diameter and is controlled by an automatic ball check valve 16, and also regulated by a manually operated valve 17, having its stem 18' provided with threads 19 to engage similar threads in the upper end of the bore, a hand wheel 20 facilitating the operation of the said valve. The bore 15 communicates with the interior of the storage chamber or barrel 1 through a duct 21 passing downward through the boss 13 in a sharp incline from the barrel,so that the flow of oil therethrough will be materially aided by gravity. The coupling 6 and body 12 are connected by a glass sight tube 22 which is oined to the said coupling and body by stuffing boxes in the form of threaded caps 23 furnished with suitable packing 24. The lower end of the body 12 of the connection is greatly reduced forming a pointed nozzle which projects downward into the bore of the tube 22. The upper end of the body 12 is furnished with a stufling box 26 in which is a gasket 27 to prevent leakage at this point.

Extending vertically through the reservoir 1 is a stand pipe or radiator tube 28 having its lower end threaded to fit similar threads in the bore of the nipple 11 while the upper end projects into the condensing chamber 2 and extends to within a short distance of the top of the said chamber, a pack; ing ring 29 being applied about the said pipe to make a tight joint where it passes between the two compartments. Inserted into the bottom of the said condensing cham'-" ber '2 and communicating therewith is a second vertical pipe 30 which has its lower end extending nearly to the bottom of the barrel or reservoir 1. The upper end of the said pipe 30 is controlled by a valve 31 having a threaded stem projecting through a threaded hole in the top of the condensing chamber and furnished with a hand wheel 32 as in the case of the previously mentioned valves. Under certain circumstances it is desirable to remove the entire contents of the reservoir and condensing chamber particularly in freezing weather and for this purpose a drain cook 33 is inserted in the 21 and enter the chamber 1. Here, meeting with the cooler oil, the steam will be condensed and the water thus produced will fall by the action of gravity to the bottom of the said chamber, displacing a proportional quantity of the oil, which will flow downthe duct 21, and as the check valve 16 will usually be unseated by the pressure of the steam entering from the sight glass, the oil will readily find its way past this valve and fall drop by drop from the tip of thenozzle 25. As the oil is of lessspecific gravity than water it will, of course, always occupy the upper part of the reservoir 1, and continue to flow through the sight glass so long as the steam enters thecsaid reservoir and is condensed therein. Whenever the pressure in the reservoir or storage chamber 1 becomes greater than that in the sight 7' glass, theback pressure from the said chamj in an effective manner.

valve 17 ber will seat the check valve 16 thus stopping the flow of oil and preventing waste. When the pressure is greater in the sight glass, the valve will automatically open and allow the oil to resume its'flow, In practice this valve will usually be in constant motion gently vibrating up and down, so that the oil flow is automatically regulated It will be readily understood that this control of the oil flow is supplemental to that of the hand operated 'Theoperation above described is for ordinary conditions; the heat of the steam as it passes through the oil on its way to the reservoir will serve to raise the temperature of this portion of the lubricant keeping it in a fluid condition so that it will flow freely through the ducts. hen, however, there is a decided lowering of the surrounding temperature it is necessary to supply a greater degree of heat to the lubricant in order to insure the proper flow. This is accomplished by opening the valve 8 and allowing the steam to pass through the radiator pipe 28 into the chamber 2 where a certain portion will be condensed. If the valve 31 is now opened the water of condensation in the said chamber will pass down through the pipe 30 into the reservoir forcing a like quantity of oil through the ducts 21 and 15. The heat of the steam in the radiator pipe 28 will have the effect of raising the temperature of the entire contents of the chamber 1, preventing the oil from hardening and thus promoting its free flow through the outlet ducts whatever the weather conditions may be, and this without interfering with .the automatic action of the check valve.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. In a displacement lubricator, the combination with a reservoir, an outlet passage therefor, and a manually operated valve controlling said passage, of a check valve arranged in said passage and adapted to regulate the flow of the lubricating material from the said reservoir, a steam pipe extending through said reservoir, and means connecting said pipe with the outlet passage below said check valve. 7 2. In a displacement sight feed lubricator, the combination with a reservoir, an outlet passage therefor, and a manually operated valve controlling said passage, of a check valve arranged in said passage, a condensing chamber communicating with said reservoir, a valve controlling the passage between said reservoir and chamber, a steam pipe extending through said reservoir and connecting with said chamber, and a valve controlling said pipe. 7

3. In a sight feed displacement lubricator,

the combination with a reservoir, an outlet passage therefor, and a manually operated valve controlling said passage, ofa check valve in said passage, a sight feed chamber communicating with said outlet passage and with a source of steam supply, a condensing chamber arranged above said reservoir and communicating therewith, a valve controlling the communication between said condensing chamber and the reservoir, a steam passage communicating with said sight feed chamber and said condensing chamber, and a valve controlling said steam passage.

5. In a sight feed displacement lubricator, the combination of a reservoir, a steam conduit adapted to be attached to a source of steam supply, said conduit communicating indirectly with the opposite ends of said reservoir, two manually operated valves controlling said conduit, and a check valve arranged in said conduit between said manually operated valves.

' In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT H. REICHEL. Witnesses:

THOMAS H. DOLLY, JOHN K. Soorr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

